Homemade Churros with Chocolate dipped Sauce

My love affair with churros only began recently when my colleagues brought it at our research centre at UTM. I ate few churros that day and I fall in love with that foot-long magical wands of dough. As I love cooking so much, I've asked for the recipe from her.

Since I spend a lot more time at home these days, I decided to play around in the kitchen a bit and made churros for Aulia' ..And of course the crispy batons need to be dipped with warm chocolate dipping sauce. While I am still far from developing a passion for cooking, I do enjoy whipping up simple snacks and I can tell you chorros are new favorite of mine. 

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup whole milk
1 cup water
2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1 cup of all-purpose flour
Dash of salt
2 eggs
Oil for deep frying
1 cup of Beryl's chocolate coins for dipping sauce

HOW TO DO:

1. Bring the milk, water, butter and salt to the boil in a saucepan.

2. When the mixture is boiling rapidly, add the flour all at once, reduce the heat to medium and without a second's hesitation, start stirring the mixture like mad with a wooden spoon. the dough will come together very quickly and a slight crust will form on the bottom of the pan., but you have to keep stirring-vigorously-another 2 to 3 minutes to dry the dough. At the end of this time, the dough will be very smooth.

3. Turn the dough into a bowl. One by one, add eggs to the dough. Beat until each egg is thoroughly incorporated. As soon as you add the first egg, your dough will separate. When all the eggs are incorporated, the dough will be thick and shiny and, when you lift some of it up will fall back into the bowl in a ribbon. Spoon the dough into a piping bag with a star tip.

4. Heat about an inch of oil in a deep cast iron skillet over a medium high heat. Carefully pipe the dough into the oil. Snip with kitchen scissors when churros is your desired length. Fry, turning once, until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side.

5. Drain on paper towels.

6. Fry 1 cup of coin Beryl's chocolate with a 1/2 cup of cooking oil for 10 minutes and serve in a glass. Enjoy hot!

Now it's perfect for tea time!

My new hobby

Assalamualaikum wbt..

I've noticed a whole lot of gusto in social media land with the arrival of 2015. Lots of people full of excitement and goals and inspiration to share. So do I. I am right there with them in feeling the buzz and freshness that comes with a clean start and a new year. This year I found a new workout routine. Life studying independently at a new place has thrown me off more than I thought it would.  I'm finding it harder than ever to make time to get out of the lab and get some exercise in. However, now that I'm a bit in track with my study, I'm determine to get back in shape. 

UTM has provided good facilities to their students including a nice swimming pool. Me and my colleagues decided to go for a swim session at least once a week. So yes, I now find a new hobby. It thought me that I can't put a limit on anything. 

"Perseverance and consistency are the keys to success, both in pool and in everyday life"

It's a cliche..Hello 2015!

Assalamualaikum wbt..

It's a brand new year and I always share my new year resolutions. Guess it's a kind of way to get them out there and hold me accountable. I am so happy that I finally accomplished all my 2014 resolutions.  Like, all of them! Alhamdulillah...  

This year may set a different goals for me as my life has taken me to a new phase.  

1. Be more discipline in taking vitamins, supplements, drink more water and kick sugar habit

2. Go for swimming at least twice a month or more 

3. Teach Iqra' and muqaddam to Aulia' 

4. Join the carboot sale for the Pre-loved items in my closet

5. Buy a new car for myself 

6. Do one home improvement project

7. Family trip to at least at one different place we never go before

8. Start doing Aulia's 'Naughty or Nice Chart' and sticker book reward

9. Date night with hubby and Aulia' once a month

And last but not least...

10. Embrace the whole 30

There you have it. As always, I set goals/ wishes I think I can easily reach, but we will see what 2015 will bring for me. I hope everyone had a blast year ahead!

A look back at 2014

Assalamualaikum wbt..

It's the first day of 2015 and I'm glad 2014 leaving us because it has been a very tough year. Personally to me and also for Malaysian as a nation. If the political situation isn't something to discuss about already, the floods and the most talked about plane crashed have all got us shocked as a nation. I absolutely cannot fathom what went through their minds in those last seconds as the plane hit water and the fact how a simple exciting trip to Spore for many have turned it into a horrid nightmare which will continue on to the families left behind. It is Allah will. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those affected. And especially.... especially to the families of those who were on MH370 and MH17.. We all shall remember this tragedies for the rest of our life. No matter how people tell you time will heal, it almost doesn't really because you're left with one of those voids that cannot be filled.

On New Year's Eve past I've breathed a deep sigh of relief to bid a goodbye to a-less-than -perfect year for our little family.  It has brought me huge amount of life change. My baby was hospitalized due to Rotavirus infection. Buying a house. Leaving my job. Decided to further my study. Being in a far relationship. Leaving my baby at home with the husband.  It's tough. Really..

But this overall feeling has leave me to be a better and grateful person. Grateful for my family and what we already have. We went through each month of 2014 with joy and we are grateful for that. Thank you Allah.

JANUARY

In January, we brought Aulia' visited the Petting Zoo in Serdang, Selangor. We had so much fun, it truly is the happiest place on earth for my baby (not so baby anymore!). We glad that we finally had time to spend with Aulia'. She seems so excited touching the tamed animals especially the guinea pig and she love the small fishes at the fish pond. We expecting to visit this kind of places again soon!

FEBRUARY

Saturday is our morning to sleep in but we decided to head north with my in-laws family. We had great picnic time at Teluk Batik,Perak. The kids had so much fun. The parents were smiling all the time. The siblings were excited that they could spend time together here when everyone were so busy with their schedule. I would say this is a great family vacation we had for this year. 

MARCH

In March, my husband and I finally get to spend our quality time just the two of us in Bali, Indonesia. We visited many interesting places and took beautiful photos. It's kinda romantic when we travel around without the little one (it's not like we are forgetting her already haha!). This is really a good chance for us to talk about ourself, enjoying foods, sightseeing and being in love with each other. 

APRIL

I recall this episode of my life as a nightmare. You can't even imagine when your child get truly sick. Aulia' was hospitalised in April due to Rotavirus infection. We stayed at the hospital for almost a week. Both my husband and I took care of her at the hospital. That one week was truly a nightmare. My baby can't sleep well. It is painful to watched her vomiting non-stop and not being able to talk and eat..After a week, Aulia's fever subsides and she was discharged from Ampang Putri hospital. What had happen to Aulia' make us alert by taking more precaution actions since this virus always  attacked young children aged 2 to 5. 

MAY

May is a month that truly special to me. It is the birthday of my parents. My mom was born on May 2nd while my dad on May 21st. We celebrated their special day with a simple family gathering out for makan-makan. 

JUNE

In June, my family went to Bukit Tinggi for a short vacation. We did enjoyed ourself with the beautiful sceneries and weather. Aulia' had her first donkey ride and that little girl was so brave I tell ya. We are so proud of her. 

JULY

We celebrated Eid  and visited my FIL's family side at the north. Family gathering is always the best moment and we surely captured that moment with a great memories. All siblings are here to celebrate Eid and seek for each other forgiveness. 

AUGUST

Our little one turns three last August and we celebrated her birthday at my in-law's. She was so happy receiving many presents, meeting with the cousin's and singing along with her birthday song during the cake cutting session.

SEPTEMBER

My family visited Medan, Indonesia in September. Medan is truly a nice place to visit. We spend 4 days and 3 night visiting many places such as Lake Toba, Samosir Island, Sipisopiso waterfall, Berastagi and Maimoen Palace in Medan.

Later that month, after came back from the trip, I made the best decision ever to QUIT my job and further my study in PhD of Environmental Engineering at UTM. I have never been happier to be able to not wake up early mornings to fight traffic to go to a new role I didn't like one bit.. naahh..I love my job. But I love study much more. I am happy being a jobless bum for now and am loving the time spent with Aulia' save for naughty days that is. 

I bid farewell to my colleagues and wish them good luck for their future endeavour.  

OCTOBER

After quitting my job in September, I have all the time in the world to pay attention to every details on what's happening in our family. I have more time to spend and enjoy every little things with my daughter. I took this opportunity to make an educational trip for Aulia' and her cousins to the butterfly park. On another weekend, we went to the bird park. We watched the bird show, egg hatching gallery and we played at the playground.  I truly had a great time being a SAHM even for a while.

NOVEMBER

Alhamdulillah praise to Allah, this year marked 29 years of my life. And this year I celebrate my own birthday at a new place, far from my family. I was very surprised to get a bouquet of flower from my husband and received his special message. I on the other hand, almost cried and feel truly blessed that my husband is very understanding, loving and patient.  I officially continue my PhD in Environmental Engineering at UTM Skudai. I quit my 6 years job, been a SAHM for a while and now here I am, doing research.

DECEMBER

This is another great time we had when the Hi5 team came to Malaysia. Aulia' been the happiest kid in the world when we bought the Hi5 concert ticket and she get to see them personally at the concert. Since I only manage to see her once a week (sometimes on fortnightly!) this is the best time I can offer to bonding along with my lil one. She seems so happy and excited (and exhausted!) rocking out the concert for almost 2 hours.

My BIL on the other hand got engaged with a girl from KL on the 1st week of December. It is an exciting moment for the whole family since he's been the quietest person at home and suddenly he popped the news of his engagement.  We made the necessary preparation for the engagement and as per discussed during the event, the girls' family side decided to held the wedding another one year. Which mean, by end of this year we gonna have a girl addition in our family, yeahh!

So that's what in store for 2014.

I am so ready to plan my resolution for 2015.

Happy New Year my dear readers!